Imaging Neurons

These are exciting times for the field of optical imaging of brain function. Rapid developments in theory and technology continue to considerably advance understanding of brain function. Reflecting changes in the field during the past five years, the second edition of In Vivo Optical Imaging of Brain Function describes state-of-the-art techniques and their applications for the growing field of functional imaging in the live brain using optical imaging techniques. New in the Second Edition: Voltage-sensitive dyes imaging in awake behaving animals Imaging based on genetically encoded probes Imaging of mitochondrial auto-fluorescence as a tool for cortical mapping Using pH-sensitive dyes for functional mapping Modulated imaging Calcium imaging of neuronal activity using 2-photon microscopy Fourier approach to optical imaging Fully updated chapters from the first edition Leading Authorities Explore the Latest Techniques Updated to reflect continuous development in this emerging research area, this new edition, as with the original, reaches across disciplines to review a variety of non-invasive optical techniques used to study activity in the living brain. Leading authorities from such diverse areas as biophysics, neuroscience, and cognitive science present a host of perspectives that range from a single neuron to large assemblies of millions of neurons, captured at various temporal and spatial resolutions. Introducing techniques that were not available just a few years ago, the authors describe the theory, setup, analytical methods, and examples that highlight the advantages of each particular method.

In the past decade, advances in microscopy have been coupled with new methods of culturing and labeling cells to generate the new science of imaging. Imaging technologies allow investigators to look directly inside living cells and probe their form and function in unprecedented detail. This approach is revolutionizing many aspects of biomedical research, particularly neuroscience, in which visual techniques have traditionally been so important. This manual is the first comprehensive description of the range of imaging technologies being applied to living cells. With its origins in a laboratory course taught at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory by the editors and contributors, it is packed with the kind of technical detail and practical advice that are essential for success, yet seldom found in the research literature. It covers both established methods and cutting-edge techniques such as multiphoton excitation microscopy and imaging of genetically engineered probes. Although it is neurons to which these technologies are most commonly applied, the methods described are readily adaptable to many other cell types. This book will therefore be an invaluable aid to investigators in cell and developmental biology and immunology as well as neuroscience who wish to take advantage of the extraordinary insights into cellular function offered by imaging technologies.

As imaging studies have continued to expand in scope and sophistication, this new edition of the highly successful and well–received Imaging Neurons: A Laboratory Manualhas expanded to include development, with over twenty new chapters on such topics as MRI microscopy, imaging early developmental events, and labeling single neurons. Chapters on FRET, FCS/ICS, FRAP, hyperresolution microscopy, single molecule imaging, imaging with quantum dots, and imaging gene expression are included. With over forty full chapters, the manual also includes over forty sections of protocols for imaging techniques.

This volume discusses membrane potential imaging in the nervous system and in the heart and modern optical recording technology. Additionally, it covers organic and genetically-encoded voltage-sensitive dyes; membrane potential imaging from individual neurons, brain slices, and brains in vivo; optical imaging of cardiac tissue and arrhythmias; bio-photonics modelling. This is an expanded and fully-updated second edition, reflecting all the recent advances in this field. Twenty chapters, all authored by leading names in the field, are cohesively structured into four sections. The opening section focuses on the history and principles of membrane potential imaging and lends context to the following sections, which examine applications in single neurons, networks, large neuronal populations and the heart. Topics discussed include population membrane potential signals in development of the vertebrate nervous system, use of membrane potential imaging from dendrites and axons, and depth-resolved optical imaging of cardiac activation and repolarization. The final section discusses the potential – and limitations – for new developments in the field, including new technology such as non-linear optics, advanced microscope designs and genetically encoded voltage sensors. Membrane Potential Imaging in the Nervous System and Heart is ideal for neurologists, electro physiologists, cardiologists and those who are interested in the applications and the future of membrane potential imaging.

A richly illustrated undergraduate textbook on the physics and biology of light Students in the physical and life sciences, and in engineering, need to know about the physics and biology of light. Recently, it has become increasingly clear that an understanding of the quantum nature of light is essential, both for the latest imaging technologies and to advance our knowledge of fundamental life processes, such as photosynthesis and human vision. From Photon to Neuron provides undergraduates with an accessible introduction to the physics of light and offers a unified view of a broad range of optical and biological phenomena. Along the way, this richly illustrated textbook builds the necessary background in neuroscience, photochemistry, and other disciplines, with applications to optogenetics, superresolution microscopy, the single-photon response of individual photoreceptor cells, and more. With its integrated approach, From Photon to Neuron can be used as the basis for interdisciplinary courses in physics, biophysics, sensory neuroscience, biophotonics, bioengineering, or nanotechnology. The goal is always for students to gain the fluency needed to derive every result for themselves, so the book includes a wealth of exercises, including many that guide students to create computer-based solutions. Supplementary online materials include real experimental data to use with the exercises. Assumes familiarity with first-year undergraduate physics and the corresponding math Overlaps the goals of the MCAT, which now includes data-based and statistical reasoning Advanced chapters and sections also make the book suitable for graduate courses An Instructor's Guide and illustration package is available to professors

This book highlights the rapidly developing field of advanced optical methods for structural and functional brain imaging. As is known, the brain is the most poorly understood organ of a living body. It is indeed the most complex structure in the known universe and, thus, mapping of the brain has become one of the most exciting frontlines of contemporary research. Starting from the fundamentals of the brain, neurons and synapses, this book presents a streamlined and focused coverage of the core principles, theoretical and experimental approaches, and state-of-the-art applications of most of the currently used imaging methods in brain research. It presents contributions from international leaders on different photonics-based brain imaging modalities and techniques. Included are comprehensive descriptions of many of the technology driven spectacular advances made over the past few years that have allowed novel insights of the structural and functional details of neurons. The book is targeted at researchers, engineers and scientists who are working in the field of brain imaging, neuroscience and connectomics. Although this book is not intended to serve as a textbook, it will appeal to undergraduate students engaged in the specialization of brain imaging.

The diversity of contemporary investigative approaches included in this volume provides an exciting account of our current understanding of brain mechanisms responsible for sensory and perceptual experience in the areas of touch, kinesthesia, and pain. Postgraduate research students in sensory physiology, neurology, psychology and anatomy, and researchers themselves will find that this volume addresses many of the key issues in our attempts to understand the neural mechanisms that mediate sensory experience arising from the body as a whole, the so-called somatic senses, in particular for touch and pain. The volume provides a record of the occasion of the St Petersburg IUPS symposium, chaired by the editors of this volume, and includes some added recent contributions from other leading international figures in the field. Brought together under the sponsoring banner of the IUPS Commission for Somatosensory Physiology and Pain, these scientists with their different experimental approaches seek collectively to understand the brain mechanisms that underlie our own nature and experience.

Exploration of Cortical Function summarizes recent research efforts aiming at the revelation of cortical population coding and signal processing strategies. Topics include optical detection techniques of population activity in the sub-millimeter range, advanced methods for the statistical analysis of these data, and biologically inspired neuronal modeling techniques for population activities in the frameworks of optimal coding, statistical learning theory, and mean-field recurrent networks. Exploration of Cortical Function is unique in that it covers one complete branch of population-based brain research ranging from techniques for data acquisition over data analysis up to modeling techniques for the quantification of functional principles. The volume covers an area which is of great current interest to researchers working on cerebral cortex. The combination of models and image analysis techniques to examine the activity of large cohorts of neurons is especially intriguing and prone to considerable error and debate.